According to the American Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), three children received skull fractures due to falls, and at least twenty five were involved in falls from the seat. I note that the media reported this as falls from a ‘defective’ seat and blames the seat rather than the way parents use it.

Over here gro-group who distribute the seat said: “We have been made aware of a voluntary recall of the Bumbo Baby Sitter seat in the USA. This recall has been actioned by the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) due to misuse of the Bumbo Baby Sitter seat. The product itself is not faulty in any way. For all UK supplied product, the current warning labels on the box, leaflet and product itself are quite clear and have been developed in conjunction with, and approved by, the UK Trading Standards Office, which have deemed the Bumbo Baby Sitter seat to be a safe product when used within these guidelines.”

Although this case concerned the Bumbo, the principles apply much more widely. No one can guarantee that a child cannot get out of the seat and, as we all know (or should know) any seat can be moved by an active child, especially when the surface is a smooth one as many work tops are. Perhaps now is the time to review the advice that we give to parents – both on the box, in the instructions, in what the retailer says and very importantly, the information given in the press when these seats are discussed. I haven’t done an extensive survey of bouncing and rocking chairs, but I have seen very few warnings in the media about how these products should and shouldn’t be used. Suppliers can only do so much.

The problem is that mums don’t like crawling around the floor or looking down on baby while they are working. One alternative is the ‘By Your Side’ Infant Seat from Bright Starts which has an adjustable height setting so that baby is in arm's reach when mum is seated in a chair, giving baby a better vantage point. They are up off the floor away from drafts, siblings and pets.